A/N: So, if you don't follow me on tumblr just a heads up really, right after I posted the last chapter I had to go to the hospital because I sliced my hand open, it's all healed now, but it hurt and there was a lot of blood and I don't know why I was so calm when it was happening honestly. Literally happened less than an hour after posting it was surreal, there's pictures on my Instagram as well because I updated my non-online friends as well as my online friends on the whole ordeal. The reason I couldn't write was that the injury happened on my dominant hand aka the one I write with, and I was in pain afterwards. The brace came off over the weekend and I started on finishing this right afterwards. I had planned on posting it yesterday but I was still writing it when I had to stop to go to bed.
Also if some parts feel like they're a mess, I apologize my train of thought got away from me at some points. There's a happy surprise in there, a bunch of angst and a lot of conversations happening. I'm trying to set up the end of the fic, and possibly what will happen in the next season fic in the next few chapters. All I'm going to say is that I'm planning a time jump in the story... for reasons that you're not going to know about for now. Just saying to brace yourselves.
A/N on the Story: The beginning takes place before chapter 18
The question of what to do for Spring Break had come up a week before the break would actually begin, well it mainly happened because Zay, who was half on Riley's bed and half on the floor had started to complain that they weren't doing anything.
"It's our first official spring break in college and we're supposed to be those kids on a beach living our best lives, and instead all we're really doing is studying," he pushed his textbook across the floor and sighed loudly.
"I'm going to visit family," Sam said to him before pushing his book back at him. Riley couldn't help but laugh at Zay dramatically pouting as the book slid next to his head.
"At least you don't have to spend a week with my sisters at our grandmother's," Charlie said while Maya braided his hair, it was weird to watch but it was how she had stopped calling him cheese soufflé.
"Says the guy who is getting his hair braided," Zay said with no malice in his voice, honestly Riley saw the way that he was looking at Charlie, it was cute but lately it's been infuriating because they would both stare at one another when the other isn't looking and giving each other those moony eyes. Oh god was that the same look she gave Lucas before they started dating, wait you know what she wasn't going to think about it.
"Don't argue please," she said to them, "I know that we should do something, but we're also broke college students and Lucas's car can't hold all of us in it."
"Well that's a lie," Maya said looking at her. "Lucas has a truck, with a back seat, you just don't want to share because then that means that you two can't sneak off."
"Maya," Riley screamed out throwing her own pillow at her best friend only to miss and hit Charlie instead.
"She's not wrong," Sam said laughing at them. "How many times did you and Lucas go for a drive last week."
"It's the only thing we can do, again we're broke college students," she couldn't help but pout about the whole argument. "Anyway, where would we even go on a non-budget?"
"Road Trip," Maya called out first.
"Road trip to a beach," Zay added in agreement, "We can camp if we have to, which would save a ton of money, Lucas and I can get the camping gear from home and everything."
"Fine, but we need to put this to a vote, with everyone, not just us, we all have to agree," she said especially since Sam and Charlie would be with their family so their vote wouldn't count.
"Gotcha," Zay said pulling out his phone, which meant that he was mass texting all parties involved. "Trip planning meeting set for tomorrow."
Honestly, they ganged up on her, because while Smackle couldn't go on the trip, Farkle said yes because his parents were going overseas for business and Smackle was visiting family on the other side of the country.
"My uncle moved out there and I haven't seen him since middle school," Smackle had said, the Uncle was the one that had taken her to the awards ceremony that Riley and Maya had gone to with Farkle.
The vote was four to two, Lucas being on her side because he wasn't sure about the truck and long distances, the farthest they've traveled was to their school, this was a two-hour drive. The road trip was to Virginia Beach, which was about eight hours, probably more if they stopped anywhere. It was right for Lucas to worry about this, his truck wasn't new, it was a few years old, Riley learned to drive in that car.
"Guys, we can't just go off without having the car checked," Lucas said to the group trying to at least move the trip somewhere closer. "We can go to Jones Beach."
"It too cold up here," Maya complained, and Riley knew that, but she could help but worry. "We'll all chip in as long as we're going somewhere warmer."
There really had been no way around it, and while she wasn't happy that they had shanghaied them, she was a little excited, the only times they had ever gone on trips had been to Texas, or the random family vacation. This was going to be their first college spring break, well not for Josh, but still it was a significant thing. And while her father complained when he had heard their plans over the phone, because there was no way that she would have said anything in person for obvious reasons. There was no way that he could really stop them, as her mother liked to remind him, Riley was now legally an adult and she could do whatever she wanted.
"But I pay for her to go to college," he had tried to argue, but that had been shut down when she reminded him about all of the things they had done in college and how it wasn't up to him to take those moments away from Riley because he couldn't get over the fact that she was growing up.
"Cory, she's an adult now, let her live her life and it's not like they're going alone, Josh and Maya will be there," her mother had said.
"That worries me even more, those two are like this close to," he starts make a hand gesture and Riley honestly didn't want to know what it looked like even over video chat.
"Cory seriously, leave it alone," her mother called out before smacking him upside the head. "Don't say things like that."
Riley honestly couldn't hear much after that because her mother took the phone and muted it, which meant that her parents were fighting over this one thing. Her father overprotective as ever but her mother fought him on this, and when they were done, they wished for her to have fun on the trip.
After the phone call she sat next to Lucas on the bed, everyone else had gone off to pack for the break, finish off the last of their school work, or in Maya's case calling Josh for a skype date because he was still in the city working on his own school work.
"I need to know," she said taking Lucas's hand in hers. "Are you okay with this?"
"I mean the way it happened is not ideal, but I did want to do something special with you for spring break, but I was thinking about something along the lines of going somewhere quiet and watching the stars," he sighed as he said it.
"Where would you like to have gone then, if you had the choice?"
"I wanted to go to Texas with you, hang out with Pappy Joe, maybe work on your driving," he smiled at her, she knew it was a joke, but she still felt nervous behind the wheel.
"I resent that," she smiled back at him. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay with being shanghaied into this."
"The whole thing makes me nervous, I mean my truck was a gift but it's not new and I've tried to keep it running, but hopefully nothing will happen we'll get some time together under the stars."
"I bet we will, and who knows maybe my dad won't show up out of nowhere and ruin everything… uh I probably shouldn't have said that, now it's out in the world."
Lucas laughed and it was the best thing to happen at that moment, he was stressed, not just because of the trip but also because of school. Their first year was almost over and they had all worked really hard but sometimes the stress was too much. She just wanted him to relax, and it probably wouldn't be possible until the whole semester was over.
The beginning of their trip started on an early Sunday morning, all because they had all accidentally camped out in the clearing watching the meteor shower on Friday and they weren't alive enough to travel on Saturday. So, Farkle had gone with Smackle to the airport the day before, while Sam and Charlie had gone home to their families, all wishing them luck on the trip. Riley should have known that it's was not going to go well, even while they were packing everything into Lucas's truck. It was mostly a feeling, it could have been anything, but she ignored it because everyone was excited to just get away. Josh offered to switch with Lucas on driving duty, and Farkle had loaded up a cooler with snacks he had brought back from the city.
Everything was going alright, even while everyone else slept around them, while Riley and Lucas took first shift, they were going to swap four hours in so that Riley and Lucas could nap. She had been asleep when it had happened, the truck stalled leaving them on the side of the road, and while Josh had woken Lucas, they had left her asleep and it wasn't until the tow truck came that they had woken her up.
It would take a full day before the truck could be fully repaired, Farkle offering to pay for it since none of them had planned for this to happen, even after Riley and Lucas both warned them that they truck wasn't made for long distance.
"I'll pay you back for this Farkle," Lucas said as he pulled out a piece of paper. "I'm going to write down the amount and I'll pay for it."
"Don't worry about it Lucas," Farkle started protesting but Lucas shook his head. As great as it was to have a friend with unlimited funds, Riley knew Lucas, he wouldn't like handouts.
"I don't want to have to rely on you for things like this, it would make me a bad friend," Lucas said before walking off to talk to the mechanic.
"He doesn't want to feel like he owes anyone," Zay said as they watched Lucas. "I think he's trying to pay his parents back for disappointing them in middle school, and while I'm sure that he's paid them back a million times over now, he still feels guilt over it."
"I know," Riley said smiling at Zay, "He has good friends but sometimes it's hard not to feel bad over things that happen in the past, and sometimes people just want to stand on their own feet."
She walked towards Lucas and just wrapped her hand in his, "It's going to be fine Lucas lets just go find a place to stay for the night."
It turns out they had broken down in a Delaware town and the only place they could afford to stay at was the motel that was just a short walk from the mechanic, so grabbing what could for the night they took the walk. Their friends had all felt bad for forcing the trip but she wasn't going to tell Lucas that, instead they all volunteered to go do something, Maya and Josh decided that they would walk to the nearby Walmart to pick up some stuff, Zay and Farkle went to the other room they had gotten to make some calls to their families to tell them they were having fun, even though it was a lie. This left Riley and Lucas alone in the room, Lucas running his hands through his hair, they both had been struggling with money the last semester, they needed part-time jobs, but just drove that in.
"Being an adult sure is a lot of work," she said, and she heard Lucas snort. "I know it's a lot but don't take this too hard."
"I know I shouldn't have taken it too hard, but I guess I kept thinking of just how much this is going to happen, not just now but in the future," he said taking her hand. "I get that this was supposed to be an experience, but it just highlighted just how much I don't have."
"You're not the only one feeling that way, but Lucas, we'll get through this just like everything else we've gotten through, because we'll be together and that's all that really matters."
Slowly raising her hand and kissing it before smiling at her, "Honestly I don't know how I got so lucky back in middle school, but I'm still glad that you fell into my lap."
"Yeah so am I," she said with a smile.
Josh and Maya had both been quiet on the walk to Walmart, Maya honestly just felt bad about what had happened, thinking back they probably should have taken a break after four hours and let the car cool down. But they had all been excited about getting to the beach and having some fun, they were college students they were supposed to have fun.
"I feel bad," Maya said looking around the area, just making sure that a car wasn't going to turn the wrong way and hit them. "I know we were so excited about this whole thing, but Lucas looked kinda…"
"Dejected, I know but I don't think that this has a lot more to do with something else and not just the car," Josh said pulling Maya towards his other side so that he was on the street side and she was protected by him. "But things like this happen honestly."
"Do they really? Because if they do, I don't think I'm ready to be an adult," she said taking his hand in hers.
"No one really is, you're kinda just thrusted into adulthood without a safety net, that's why I had such a hard time my first year of college, it happens."
It made Maya wonder about something else, mainly about Smackle and Farkle and how they're the most put together out of all of them, though they have their quirks. "I wonder how Farkle and Smackle do it, I mean they're now engaged and all."
Josh smiled at her and pulled her close for a moment, "I honestly think that Farkle was born old, ever since I met him he has always been this weird force but he's known just where he was going in life, while everyone else had to figure out just where they want to be standing at that moment."
"We that's one way to look at it," she said with a smile thinking back to Farkle growing up, "He's really mature if he's already thinking about his future with Smackle."
"I think it's more along the lines that he's found someone he wants to be with and knows that they would be together in the future."
"Yeah, I guess," she said and honestly, she thought to her own future, her art, her friends, and Josh being the cherry on top. "Do you ever think about it?" she was asking out of curiosity honestly because she had never really thought that far, she had always had this fear that sort of stemmed from her parents own failed marriage.
"The future, of course I think about it all of the time."
Now that it was out there she wanted an honest answer from Josh, "Josh, I want to know where I stand in that future?"
He stopped altogether, they were mere steps from their destination but even she knew that this wasn't a conversation to be having inside of a Walmart, "Maya, are you asking if I want to marry you?"
"Well I'm not outright proposing but I'd like to know… well you know for future reference."
There was a small smile on his face, and she could feel her own heat up but there was no backing out now. She had pretty much opened up her heart somewhere in the middle of nowhere Delaware next to a Walmart and now this just felt like the weirdest moment of her entire life, topping the time when she tried to be Riley, topping that moment when she jumps on Josh's back the day he got accepted into NYU, all of their high school experiences, and even things that she would never tell Riley about because they were too personal and involved her sex life. As much as she likes to tease Riley about the fact that Josh was her uncle and that she would one day be her aunt, there were just too many intimate things about her and Josh's relationship.
"Did you know that Topanga proposed to my brother," he told her, not really answering her question at all. "At graduation, they were going to elope and everything but decided to wait."
"Josh you're not answering my hypothetical question here."
"We if you were asking me at this moment I would say yes," he said in a teasing tone.
"Are you telling me to propose to you?"
"Maybe, you know a guy can only dream, they're usually the ones who propose but I've always thought that when I met that special person, well they would propose first, mainly because I look up to my big brother the most."
Now knowing where this was going Maya walked away for a moment, picked up a couple pieces of grass and weaved them into a ring. "Joshua Gabriel Matthews, would you maybe one day marry me?" she asked getting down on one knee and knowing that this is everything that she wants at that moment.
Josh kneeled down and kissed her, "Of course I will maybe one day marry you," he said as she slipped her little grass ring into his hand. He held onto her hand just a little longer, their eyes never leaving each other.
"I will probably forever blame you for the fact that I proposed outside of a Walmart."
"Yeah, but I would probably blame Farkle for ruining this for me too," he said and she was just confused.
"Why would you blame Farkle?"
He smiled at her before she felt something slip onto her hand, "I had been planning on taking you somewhere during spring break, you know somewhere special and all, just to proposed but the genius went and on upped me and proposed during a meteor shower. I even asked for your hand in marriage, I thought I was going to die."
There on her hand was a small diamond ring, she was speechless, "Wha…"
"I mean it's not my grandmother's ring, or my mom's but it's vintage and I knew it would be for this when I found it, so now that I've answered your question, I would like to ask you if you would be my wife?"
"Yes," she whispered before throwing herself into Josh's arms. "We're going to have the weirdest proposal story ever."
They were laughing as they kneeled down on the grass, Josh pulling her up and kissing her before they went back to what they were doing. It was honestly the weirdest moments in their relationship, but she liked that it was wholly theirs. She already knew that their engagement wasn't going to be as long as Farkle and Smackle's the two geniuses were planning to wait until after they finished their degrees, but honestly speaking, she didn't want to wait that long.
"Would a summer wedding work for you?" she said as they walked into Walmart, Josh laughed out loud as they grabbed a cart. "Not this summer of course, but maybe next summer."
"I will do whatever you want Maya, as long as we plan this whole thing together."
Farkle never told anyone, but he had a secret account for anytime his friends paid him back for something, there wasn't a lot in there, well not at first, mainly because his friends were self-sufficient, so if he paid for something and they gave him the money he would put it into this account. He invested that money, he didn't see it as his money, instead he had created a fund for moments like this where if his friends needed something it would be there. The problem with his method was that no one knew, and so he saw Lucas freaking out about the car and the lack of money and it made him feel bad.
"Hey Zay," Farkle said as Zay dug around his backpack and pull out a bag of cookies.
"Yeah man," Zay said sitting in the nearby couch.
"What would you say if I told you that the money, I used to pay for the car repairs came from a fund that I set up with the money you all paid me back over the years."
"Well, first off, there wouldn't be much money in there…," Zay stopped just as his eyes went wide, "Not unless you did something."
"I invested it, all of it."
"Dude all together we probably gave you less than two hundred, how much would be there now?"
"Enough," Farkle said not wanting to give away the amount. "I did it in case anything bad happened and you guys needed the money, I did it to protect you all honestly, especially since Riley is always protecting us in so many ways."
"Wow," Zay said sitting back and looking at him. "You're telling me this because…"
"I don't want Lucas paying me back for this, not when we sort of forced this trip on him."
It felt weird, taking money from his friends when he had so much, it's why he paid for repairs in Maya's apartment when they were in middle school, or why he could involve his mom in creating thousand-dollar dresses for a school dance. He had the money, and there was no way that he would be able to spend it in his lifetime, but over the years he learned that it was better to pay it forward for the things that his friends did for him.
"Don't tell him," Zay said and honestly it surprised him. "Lucas is a very proud person, he's worked so hard to get to this point in his life, especially after everything that's happened, so he wouldn't really feel good about something like that."
"But he's going to pay me back for this and it'll make me feel awful since I have this money."
"Then save it, whatever he gives you save it, who knows maybe you can give it to him when he's in a better place, but for now just leave it."
Farkle sat there and took in what Zay was saying, he was right in every way but it still made him feel awful about the whole thing. "Okay," he said deciding that this wasn't the time to say something. "How about we turn this whole day around, and just make him feel better then?"
"Yeah I was thinking about that but then I got hungry," Zay said offering him a cookie. "Maya and Josh are taking a long time getting back too so we can't actually go out and get food."
"Leave them to their time alone, we can use it to plan something fun to do when they get back."
"I saw something on one of the billboards on the way into town, there's a go cart track not far from here, and there is a beach nearby as well, so we can go there."
"The go carts today, the beach tomorrow, and when we get the truck back, we can finally make it to our final destination."
"Or we can stay around here, I mean there has to be a campsite somewhere."
The two of them worked on their plan, they had found a campsite that had specialty cabins, and while he knew his friends wouldn't be happy about him spending the money, it would be worth it, especially since they were themed cabins. They called and asked to see if there were some available, and they were in luck because there were two, but one was for a family of four and the other was for a single couple.
Farkle decided to take them, "Riley and Lucas can have that one," he said smiling when he had heard what kind of cabin it had been. "I mean she does love Princess themes."
Zay laughed out loud and wrote down the directions to the cabins, "The other one has one double bed and two singles so we can share, and their nearby so we can even have a fire and roast some marshmallows."
"So, it's decided?"
"Yup," Zay said and they shook on it.
When Maya had walked into the motel room Riley could automatically tell that something was different, they have been friends since forever, and Riley automatically knew something was up, but that mostly had to do with the fact that Maya was smiling like crazy. So, she did what any good best friend would do and pulled her best friend into the small bathroom without even asking for permission, and Maya went along without question.
"What happened?" Riley said the moment the door was closed.
"Well…" Maya started before holding up her hand and showing Riley the ring on her finger, causing the two to jump and squeal out loud, before Riley opened the door, dragging Maya out and hugging Josh.
"How did I not know about this?" she asked Josh who probably should have told her something, anything, but hadn't.
"It was supposed to be a surprise but then Maya proposed and ruined everything," he said without any malice in his voice. "So of course, I had to actually propose."
"We were outside of Walmart," Maya added with a smile on her face. "It's the weirdest proposal story in the world, and one that will be fun to tell in the future."
"But why now?" Riley asked curious, especially since all of her friends were all of a sudden getting engaged.
"Well Dr. Genius over there proposed before I could, I've been planning this since my birthday and the only people that knew were Maya's mom, Shawn who actually chased me around the apartment when I asked for her hand in marriage, and my parents, who were all sworn to secrecy."
"I'll take my Walmart proposal over something romantic," Maya said with a smile.
"That's only because you like weird and creepy things, and this place is both weird and slightly creepy," Zay said making Josh laugh. "What had been the original plan?"
"The beach at sunset was the second plan, the first was to propose where we first met but I can't very well take over my brother's apartment for this," Josh shrugged at that last suggestions, "But this makes it one hundred and fifty times more memorable, though can we tell Shawn that it was a nice and normal proposal."
"I promise, Shawn will never know... well at least not until we're living in our own place and he isn't legally allowed to kick your ass," Maya said kissing Josh.
Riley was happy for the two of them, but honestly speaking she wasn't ready for that with Lucas, and she knew that Lucas understood this especially when he took her hand in his. She liked that they took things slow mainly because whenever they tried to rush things life got in the way and everything would get out of control. He slowly pulled her towards where he was sitting and she couldn't help but sit next to him.
"We have to celebrate," Riley said from where was sitting, smiling up at her friends. "We celebrated with Farkle and Smackle in the field, so we should celebrate now too, though can we not stay up all night please."
"Well Zay and I have an idea on how to celebrate then," Farkle said with a smile. "We can do this after the car is fixed too."
"Yeah it will be great," Zay said smiling at honestly Riley was afraid of what they were planning, Zay seeing the look on her face laughed. "Don't worry sugar, it's nothing bad."
"Yeah nothing terrible," Farkle added before pulling out his phone. "We found this place nearby, maybe a twenty or so minute drive, they have these cabins they're small, but we thought we could stay there."
"Farkle," Lucas said and Riley knew where this was going, but before Lucas could protest Farkle held up his hand.
"Don't worry Lucas, it's not expensive or anything, they're on a campground and everything, but Zay and I figured that we needed to do something to make up for the fact that we sort of forced this trip on you and Riley."
"I didn't mind the trip," Riley said knowing that even when everything went wrong as long as they were together, they would be fine.
"Yeah but still we were kind of well..." Zay didn't finish what he was saying. "Forget it."
"Yeah let's," Josh said to everyone, "From this moment forward lets just have fun and try to forget what got us here."
That's how it went for the rest of the day, they ate microwaved meals for dinner, because they were too tired to actually try and find a place to eat. Riley cuddle up to Lucas to make sure that he was alright with everything that had happened, and she could feel him relaxing so it was going great.
The next morning, after Farkle and Lucas had gone to get the car, and they were once again piled into the car, they made another stop at Walmart for extras, mostly food that needed to be cooked and not microwaved. They brought a small and relatively cheap grill, a cooler that was filled with meat and ice, as well as a few veggies because they needed to be a little healthy. Once everything was secured onto the flatbed of the truck they went off, following Farkle's directions towards the cabins. It was a relatively warm day, and a little quiet until they pulled into the area where their cabin was, or cabins.
"There's two," Riley said looking at the group, suddenly realizing that maybe Josh had asked for a place for him and Maya.
"Yeah they're also themed," Zay said smiling at them as he handed Lucas a set of keys before grabbing Josh and Maya dragging them towards the bigger house.
"Uh," Lucas said not knowing what just happened. "Zay where are you guys going?"
"The little house is for you and Riley," Farkle said patting Lucas on the arm. "It's our gift to you for dragging you guys into this trip and of course the fact that everything went wrong when we left New York."
"What," Riley said but before she could finish Farkle walked off to join the others. She was honestly speechless she didn't know what to do about what just happened.
"They gave us our own cabin in the woods," Lucas said looking at her equally dumbfounded by what was happening. Riley couldn't help but blush at the fact that she was going to be truly alone with Lucas in a cabin rented out by her friends. "We don't have to do anything."
"Okay," she all but whispered. "I'm not ready for that… not really, I mean I love you and I see a future with you but that's too big of a step to take right now."
"Of course, it is, I want to at least talk with you about it but even I'm not ready for that, not if I freak out over something like a broken-down car."
They both just stood there, unsure of their next step, she wasn't scared of Lucas, he was a gentleman, but she wasn't ready for somethings… not like her friends were. Lucas took her hand and held it against his cheek before kissing it softly. It was the courage she needed just to walk towards the cabin.
What they walked into was a something that looked like a forest in a Disney movie, bed was carved out of wood the headboard looked like a tree going all the way into the ceiling. Throughout the room there were little animal plush toys and carved woodland creatures, it looked like a fantasy world.
"Wow, this place is just like you," Lucas said before picking her up bridal style and walking her into the room. "It's made for a princess."
If her face could become a tomato, this would be the moment it would happen, especially the moment he put her down and kissed her. The whole thing had rendered her speechless, she couldn't help but look at every little detail around them.
"Riley," Lucas said like he was afraid that she was going to freak out. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, it's just a little… well unexpected," she finally said wishing that she could crawl under the bed and die. "It's everything I could wish for, but it still scares me."
"I promised, not until we're ready, if it would make you feel better, I can sleep on the floor, I do have a sleeping bag."
"No, the bed is big enough for both of us, and we've slept in the same bed before, but…"
"Someone was always in the room with us," he finished for her. "Nothing is going to happen, we can playhouse, and cook dinner for everyone, we can talk all night if you want to."
She knew that he wouldn't force himself on her, they always talked everything through, it's what they did, and since he knows that she's not ready then he's not going to force the issue. Lucas honestly wasn't like other guys, and she was lucky that he was one of the best guys she knew.
"Okay," she said trusting him just because he never let her down.
Later that day, when the whole group had gathered in front of the fire pit and started setting up the barbecue they were all relaxed, their first day had been a hard one, but honestly it just made this moment more worth it. They didn't need a beach or a spring break like the ones in the movies, they just needed each other.
"So," Zay said as they all settled into their dinner. "What's everyone's plans for the summer?"
With the semester almost over, and finals just around the corner, they all had to thing of what they were going to do for the summer. It was a simple conversation, and one that would honestly give them a chance to plan out some weekends together.
"I'm working at Minkus International this summer with Smackle," Farkle said a small smile on his face. "My dad saw something we had been trying to put together and offered us an internship for experience."
"Cool, cool, cool," Zay said nodding as he said it.
"I'm going to spend the summer with my family," Maya said smiling proudly, "Probably work at the café with Josh too."
"Yeah, I need to save up this summer," Josh added, "Since I'm starting grad school in the fall, and I need an apartment since the school doesn't offer housing to grad students."
"Is Maya going to move in with you?" Riley asked genuinely curious, she had thought that all of the girls would all share a suite in the fall.
"No," Maya said smiling. "I don't want Shawn to turn into your dad, though sleepovers are encouraged."
"What about you Lucas any plans?" Zay asked moving the conversation away from what was currently starting between Maya and Josh.
"I got a summer internship at a ranch just outside the city, so I'll be commuting to work," Lucas said before taking a bite out of his food. Riley already knew this they had talked about their summer plans earlier in the semester. "What about you Zay, since you're the one asking all of the questions?"
"Well I'll have you know I'm working with Riley's mom this summer."
"What?" the whole group screamed out.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it and I'm getting a Criminal Justice degree, and after what happened with Riley and that guy, and I talked to your mom about it and she said they usually had summer internships for students who were looking in careers in law, whether it's on the police force or in a law office, so I applied and they've offered me a job."
"Wow, how did I not hear about this," Riley said honestly surprised.
"I told your mom to keep it a secret," Zay winked at her and she couldn't help but laugh, Zay would be good in that sort of field, he was great with people. "What about you sugar, anything this summer, other than following Lucas around."
"Ha, very funny, but no, I actually applied to the summer writing institute at NYU, after writing as much as I have the last few years I thought it would be a good opportunity, plus I would be home all summer and like Maya, working at the café," she had been thinking about it for a while and got a great recommendation from her writing professor, who had actually given her the application to try it out.
"So, we're all going to have a busy summer, when will we ever see one another," Zay said lounging back for a moment.
"The Forth," Josh said smiling.
"We can see the fireworks from Farkle's house," Maya added, "It's the best view in the city."
"I'll tell my dad, maybe we can make it a family event and have everyone over," Farkle said to them and honestly Riley loved the idea.
"Well lets just get through this mini vacation, and the rest of the semester before we start planning anything," Riley said to the group before they all went back to their food.
Even with a few hiccups this year, it was honestly one of the best she's had, she couldn't predict the future, but she already knew that the rest of the year was going to be great as long as she had her friends and her family.